Griffin Jones, DrPH 22, speaks during a class as his son makes an unexpected appearance
April 9, 2021 In her work as a social scientist, Elizabeth Perry, DrPH ’23, uses behavioral research to nudge people towards making better choices, such as saving for retirement or getting vaccinated for COVID-19. But on a recent afternoon, she had a different behavior challenge to contend with that of a bored kid in search of snacks.
As Perry worked on a group project with fellow Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students over Zoom, she tried to focus on the complex statistical problems at hand while also keeping part of her brain tuned to her 8-year-old son’s movements in the house. But the work demanded close concentration, and her attention eventually shifted more fully to the screen. Soon, however, she saw movement in her Zoom background.